Shit Elves don’t have any intrinsic magic, which probably means they aren’t nigh-immortal and and lack any “special” magical skills, which basically makes them humans with pointy ears and a tendency towards scrawniness, that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t learn magic.

I’m not saying that’s the case with Best, who may just be using an artifact with magical enhancements that don’t require any magical ability on the part of the user.

I’ll think of it like an enchanted weapon, or just a sonic attack. Anyone can use an enchanted weapon, and special attacks don’t necessarily need to be magic within the setting. Either explanation provides a way around him using magic.

I wonder if a higher leveled bard could just shout black canary style without the need of instrumental aid.

Yeah, this definitely reinforces my belief that Best truly does just believe his own press clippings. Throwing children off a sinking ship? Fool proof plan by Best logic. Nudging the berserker in front of the death ray golems? Stepping stone to brilliance. That’s why I’ve never really been able to hate the guy or be able to really fault Byron for thinking the guy’s a loose cannon. The guy isn’t malicious. He’s just Best.

Past success doesn’t guarantee future success though. Best is clearly very competent but expecting other characters to have so much faith in the guy that volunteering other people for dangerous jobs becomes an acceptable tactic is a bit much.

Oh for sure. Everything you said was absolutely true. Best is a product of his environment to a very severe degree. The accomplishment was accurate. He didn’t become a giant douche until after all this prophecy business. I personally don’t think that excuses anything, but some could certainly feel it makes him more relatable.

Byron can’t really be blamed for his assessment of the guy either. He’s the only teammate that doesn’t listen to orders. His actions have endangered his allies and the innocent on multiple occasions and he’s never shown any regret or even comprehension of this. I wouldn’t exactly be expecting the man to save my ass either.

When your two examples of horrible plans worked out so well though I couldn’t help but poke fun with a double pun. Especially when it puts itself together so easily.

Heck, iirc he actually saved the day with the children one. The ship was gonna crash or something and no one else had a solution. He probably wouldn’t have endangered the children if a safer option had presented itself. From his perspective everyone else was likely being a dick by getting in his face about his method of saving their asses.

For example, if Best the Magnificent throws a kid off a crashing airship it’s still cool. However if JB were to do the same thing he should suffer the most excruciating punishment for his vile act as he lacks the magnificence with which to justify it.

“Dude, we hire this guy to bring in some humans for ritual sacrifice to renew our mystical energies. Out of nowhere he starts foaming at the mouth and goes batshit insane! Next thing I know I got an eye full of axe and he’s walking around high fiving the sacrifices. Would not recommend him to a friend.”

Dude, we get it. You’re like Mark Wahlberg from the movie “date night.” Now put on a shirt! I mean come on, popped collar, exposed body. Give this man a backwards cap and a fraternity and he is the uber DB

If only the golems were equipped with some kind of telepathic augmentation to those eyes, preferably with built-in curiosity algorithms to help hone their knowledge of where the heroes were thinking of being…

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